Dave Thier
, ContributorI write about video games and technology.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Nintendo

A gamer plays the Nintendo Switch.

The Nintendo Switch has launched...sort of. It might be doing this dance in winter instead of fall, but Nintendo is following a similar script to many other hardware launches of years past. It's selling a largely unfinished console to a core gaming public who will buy the machine no matter what, hoping to iron out problems and build an install base while wooing less dedicated customers. It's not great but it's not terrible, and that's where we are right now regardless. The Nintendo Switch isn't ready to sell to regular consumers, which is largely okay because they can't buy one anyways. It will need the work if it's going to survive against the PS4 and Xbox One in the competitive fall season. There's lots to be done, but here are four things the console is going to need to get close enough to completion to sell to a broad market.

Netflix Et Al.: The fact that we don't have this at launch is a bit of a mystery, even if the core customers that are buying the Switch right now are big enough fans that something like the lack of streaming services isn't going to deter them. But services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu are absolute necessities for connected devices in 2017. Yes, anyone who picks up a Switch is bound to have a couple of streaming video devices in their lives already. It doesn't matter. The flexibility afforded to any device from streaming services instantly transforms it from a dedicated gaming machine to something much more versatile, getting users to interact with the device on a more regular basis. Their absence, on the other hand, makes the slickest device look not only antiquated but also compromised in the face of well-rounded competition. Not something Nintendo wants to encourage.

Virtual Console: Virtual Console is among Nintendo's best ideas and greatest strengths, aside from the fact that it's been mismanaged for near a decade. The idea is simple: Nintendo has a massive library of beloved games, and they should be made available on modern devices. People love these games, people want to buy them, done. In practice, however, titles have been slow to come to the Virtual Console, selection has been curious and the service has never quite lived up to its potential in any way. It's not even available on the Switch right now. Nintendo is riding a wave of nostalgia borne from mobile titles and the NES Classic Edition. It would be wise to give players an opportunity to indulge that nostalgia with its new device as well. The service could still use a lot of work to actually start moving the needle -- a subscription or an instant library would be nice -- but for right now we'll settle for just showing up.

To Fix That Left Joy-Con: Not everyone I know with the machine has experienced this problem, but enough of them have that this seems to register as hardware issue number one for this console. When using the Joy-Cons with the grip in docked or tabletop mode, the left Joy-Con has a nasty habit of disconnecting, causing some frustrating moments in whatever game you're playing. It's a big stumbling block for a system that tackles so many complex hardware problems head on, and has a way of making docked mode near unworkable at times. For those keeping score, the ability to switch between mobile and docked is this machine's biggest selling point. This is not going to do well with word of mouth.

A Better Kickstand: As far as the priority list goes, this isn't as high as the other ones. It's a big deal nonetheless. Players are going to spend most of their time with the Switch in either docked or handheld mode, but tabletop mode has been billed as one of the system's three main configurations since the unveiling. And it's lacking. The kickstand is flimsy and causes real concern for anyone who just shelled out $300 on a fancy piece of technology. To top things off, tabletop mode is meant to be used in a range of situations, from backseats of cars to airplanes and more. It's clear that the stock kickstand isn't really up to that task, and the fact that you can't charge to device in this mode just adds to the problem.

Of these, the two software fixes are relatively straightforward and assuredly scheduled. The hardware fixes are going to be a bit more of a headache. It's possible that there could be some sort of firmware patch that could help with the Joy-Con communication, but early suspicions that it has to do with antenna placement suggest that something more involved might be required. And while the kickstand might not require any sort of electronic redesign, any change to the physical object that is the Switch is going to be a big effort from Nintendo and its manufacturing partners that we aren't likely to see for a while.